Faith - The 6th Sense

by Anna Balsamo
Heart Song Worship Center

We all know we have five senses
and the corresponding body parts to prove it. We have eyes
to see; ears that hear; a nose that smells; a tongue to
taste, and hands to feel. But are we born with another
sense - one that does not have a physical body part to
go with it?

I like to think that we do. Let me explain. When we sit
down on the sofa, we have faith that it will hold us up,
don't we? When we go to sleep at night we have faith
that we will open our eyes each day. Even a baby
experiences faith when it's loved one holds it in their
arms. It begins to trust that when that happens they'll
be kept safe. We believe the dishwasher will work after we
have added the necessary soap and pressed the
"on" button. We walk with faith more than we know
even if we aren't a believer. It's not something
most people will acknowledge because it's not something
they can put their finger on. It transcends what we see
with our physical eyes or our sense called sight. But it is
there nonetheless from birth. Just like our other senses.

So when God calls us to "walk by faith and not by
sight" (2 Cor. 5:7), it sounds like we already
have it and must learn to utilize it, doesn't it? A
baby gradually learns how to eat solid food, and toddlers
learn to walk slowly and before long they are up and
running pretty fast. It is the same with us and the faith
God has already given us. But why is faith so important?
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and
that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Heb.
11:6). We must take the faith already inherent in us
and learn to trust the God who put it there, much like the
toddler learning to walk - by taking baby steps of
faith and then gradually leaps of faith.

So if we are all born with this sixth sense called faith,
how do we learn to use it in our walk with Christ?
"Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of
Christ" (Romans 10:17 NASB). Here we learn
that in order for our faith to grow we must hear God's
Word in the Bible. "Why is that?" You ask. In
Hebrews 4:12 God tells us that, "the Word of God is
living and active; sharper than any double-edged sword.
It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart."

God is very clear throughout scripture that His Word is
the standard by which we should live, and the way we learn
about Him. By reading and meditating on His Word, gradually
and little-by-little His Holy Spirit takes that
Word and helps it grow us up in Christ. But only if we obey
what we read.

Let me give you an example: "Do not judge, and you
will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven"
(Luke 6:37).

I could read this scripture everyday for a year, and the
Holy Spirit could convict me of the sin of unforgiveness,
but unless I decide to obey and forgive the offender, I am
not letting go of "me" with all its selfishness
and pride and letting His grace shine through me. He
won't get any glory from my behavior. No one will see
Him in me, and I will be walking in my old sinful nature.
"The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from
that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to
please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal
life" (Galatians 6:8). So what is the purpose
to this life of faith? 1 Peter 1:9 tells us that the goal
of our faith is the salvation of our souls. Romans 10:9
(NLT) states, "If you confess with your mouth
that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved." That is
and always will be God's intent for our faith - to
receive His one and only Son. But it doesn't stop
there. He has given us life here on earth and after
salvation expects us to follow His plan for it. And He
does have a plan for each one of us, "The LORD will
fulfill his purpose for me" (Ps. 138:8). The
one goal we as Christians all share is this: to become like
Him. Sometimes Our Heavenly Father allows very difficult
times in our lives to stretch our faith and if we let Him,
become more like Him. 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) tells us,
"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It
is being tested as fire tests and purifies
gold--though your faith is far more precious than
mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many
trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor
on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole
world."

I can't say I enjoy the trials God allows in my life,
but long after they're over I can see how He has used
them to change me and even to stretch my weak faith. I
remember one summer about three years ago when I
experienced one horrible event after another. I used to be
like a child out of school each summer joyfully
anticipating things like a day at the beach or barbecues in
the backyard with lots of family around me. But God used
what I like to call "the summer from hell" to
change me. I won't bore you with the details. Suffice
it to say it felt like I was on a roller coaster (front
seat no less!) and each dip I took I held onto the Lord
and the truth of His Word more than ever before. I only
knew I was going to survive because He said so and not
because I felt it. "Never will I leave you, never will
I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). I came out of
that experience with more faith and more praise to my
Heavenly Father. Oh yes, I was tested alright, and I am not
the same person I was before those experiences.

Walking by faith was always His plan - right from the
beginning. Once you learn to use this "sixth
sense" by putting one foot in front of the other
(hearing and reading His Word and obeying it), you
will be glorifying your Heavenly Father and one day you
might just hear Him say, "Well done good and faithful
servant!" (Matt. 25:21). Well done!